Train-pipe coupling



l. B. GENIN.

TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATmN FlLED1uN29,19:a.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

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J. B. GENN.

TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI: 29. IsIs.

Patented .`Ia,i1.6,1920.4

2 SHEETS-SHEET M2707 56am,

AUNITED STATE PATEN FFICE.

JOHN B. GENIN, 0F ST. ALBANS, VERMONT, ASSIGNOB/ OF ONE-EIGHTH TO ALBERTD. i DENIS, Oli MONTREAL, CANADA, iND ONE-EIGHT- TO J. O. GOYETTE, 0FHOUSES POINT, NEW YORK.

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Application led Tune 29, 1918.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Jol-IN B. GriiNiN, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Albans, in the Sta-te of Vermont, have invented certainnew' and useful Improvements in Train-Pipe Couplings; and l do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the saine.

The present invention relates to automatic couplings for connecting theadgacent ends of the pipe lines for air and steam on railway cars. t

An object of the present invention is to provide connections for suchcouplers whereby when the cars pass Varound curves or should thecoupling members be slightly displaced an absolutely tight joint will atall times be maintained.

Viith the above and other objects in view which will hereinafter appearas the description continues, the invention consists of the novelfeatures of construction, conibination and formation of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings has been shown a simple and preferred forniof the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation isnecessarily made to the'pre oise structural details herein exhibited,but the right is hereby reserved to any changes, alterations ormodifications to which recourse may be had that come within the scope ofthe claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention orsacrificing the efficiency of the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the coupling device as applied;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the couplers taken substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through one of the couplers; and,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal detail section through one of the couplers andits connection to the air pipe.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings whereinlike and corresponding parts are designated by simi Specification ofLetters Patent.

Serial No. 24 672.

lar reference characters throughout the several Views.

The numeral 1 indicates ordinary railroad cars having` the draw-bars 2applied thereto for connecting the cars together. Connected to each ofthe draw-bars 2 by means of the J-bolts 3 is a bracket 4 comprising adepending spring plate. Carried by each of these plates 4 is a 'bearing5 and extending through and pivotally coi'inected to each of thesebearings is a bar 6. One end of this bar 6 is connected by means of theequalizing springs 7 to the portions of the brackets l which areconnected to the couplers 2', and encircling each of thesebars 6 is ashock absorbing spring S. Connected to the outer or free ends of each ofthese bars 6 is a block or structure 9 (usually a. casing) having formedin its front face a series of recesses 10, each of which terminate in aperforation 11 and forni a shoulder 12 between the recess and theperforation as better illustrated in Fig. 5 and there being one recessand perforation for each line of coupling. Formed with the oppositesides of the castings 9 are the wings 13 which act as guiding andengaging devices so as to bring the couplings together or allow thecouplings to have sufficient play to compensate for any qualities andcurvatures of the track over which the car travels.

For the usual rubber hose l employ flexible metal hose one of whichindicated by the numeral 14E being for air brakes, one indicated by thenumeral 15 being for the signal and one `indicated by the numeral 16being for the heating` pipes and carries steam. Connected to each ofthese pipes 14 15 and 16 isa short pipe 17 and this short pipe en tendsthrough the perforations 11- formed within the couplingheads andterminate in enlarged heads or pistons 18 which are slidably mountedwithin the recesses 11. These piston heads 18 are provided withinternally threaded recesses 19 which communicate with the pipes 17 andseated within each of these recesses is an externally threaded ring 20carrying a spider 21. The

inner faces of these rings 20 are formed with a concavely rounded seatand adapted to rest within this seat is one end of a sleeve which end isrounded so as toflt within Patented Jan. e, i920.

this concave seat, and said sleeve and ring forming` practically auniversal joint of limited range. This sleeve 22 is provided with aspider 23 and extending through the spiders 23 and 21 is a valve stein24:. This valve stem carries a: valve 25 which is adapted to `movewithin the recesses 19, the opposite end of the valve stem is providedwith a head 2G and arranged between this head 26 and the spider 23 is acoil spring 27 which normally holds the valve 25 closed. Seated withinthe castings 9 andl encircling the pipe 17 are suitable couplings 28 soas to prevent leakage and permit this pipe 17 to move longitudinally.Each pipe 17 carries a flange 29 and arranged between the flange 29 andthe couplings 28 is a coil spring 30 which normally exerts a pressureupon the pipe 17 for retaining the pistons 18 within the recesses 10.`Communicating with each of the recesses 1() is a pipe 31 and this pipeis connected to a flexible hose or piping 32 which piping ,32 isconnected to the air pipe 14, so as to supply air to the variousrecesses 10 and force the pistons 18 outwardly so that they will assumethe positionas better shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, but their outwardmovement is limited by means of the coil springs 30;

From the foregoing it is obvious that as the two coupling heads arebrought together the wings or guiding members 13 will direct thecouplings to their proper positions and any shocks exerted upon thecouplings when coming together will be taken up by means of the springs8. After the couplings have been connected together and when any forcesare exerted upon the couplings so as to cause them to move in a verticaldirection, the connection between the rods (Sand the couplings 5 willpermit such a movement, but these movements will be limited by means ofthe equalizing springs 7. The air from the pipe 111 at all times exertsa pressure upon each of the pistons 18, thereby forcing the sameoutwardly and when two couplings come together the sleeve 22 of theadjacent couplings will contact, and by having a continual pressure uponthese sleeves they will at all times maintain an absolutely tightconnection irrespective of` any movements they are compelled to undergowhen the car is traveling over rough roads or curvatures of the track.When the sleeves 22 come together the adjacent ends 26 of the valvestems will contact, thereby forcing the valves 25 inwardly where theywill open the connections so that the fluids may readily passtherethrough and establish a communication between the pipes of theadjacent cars. However, when .their .closed positions, thereby cuttingoii' the supply of air or steam and preventing leakage. The outer facesof each of the castings 9 are provided with the bumpers 33 and the steampipe 16 may be provided with the suitable condensation valves 34.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a train pipe coupling device the combination with a casting havinga series of recesses formed therein, connecting pipes extending withinsaid recesses, pistons carried by the outer ends of said connectingpipes, valves arranged within said pistons, and means for supplyingpneumatic pressure to said pistons substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. In a train line coupling the combination with a casting, one face ofsaid casting having a plurality of recesses formed therein andperforations communicating with said recesses, pipes extending throughsaid perforations and communicating with the air and steam pipes of thetrain, a piston carried by one end of each of said pipes extendingthrough said perforations, means for supplying air from the air pipeofthe train to each of said recesses so as to force said pistonsoutwardly, and spring actuated valves arranged within said pistonssubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a train pipe coupling the combination with a casting having aplurality of recesses formed therein and a perforation communicatingwith each recess, a piston slidably mounted within each recess, a sleevearranged within each piston, a flexible connection between said sleeveand said piston, a valve arranged within each piston, pipescommunicating with each piston and eX- tending through saidperforations, coil springs encircling said pipes for normally holdingthe pistons within said recesses, and means for supplying air to saidrecesses wherebysaid pistons will be forced outwardly substantially asand for the purpose specified.

4:. In a train pipe coupling the combination with a casting having aplurality of recesses therein, pistons 'slidably mounted within saidrecesses, pipes communicating with said recesses, air and steam pipesvconnected with 'said pistons, means for normally `holding said pistonswithin said recesses, means of communication between said air pipe andthe pipes leading to said recesses, whereby air may force said pistonsoutwardly substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a train pipe coupling device the combination with a casting, airand steam pipes communicating with said casting,V a bar having one endconnected to said casting, a supporting bracket, said bar beingconnected to said supporting bracket, a

shock absorbing spring encircling said bar and arranged between saidcasting and said bracket, and an equalizing spring connecting the outerend of said bar with said bracket substantially as and for the purposespecified.

6. In a train pipe coupling device the combination with a casting havinga recess therein and a perforation communicating with said recess, apipe extending through said perforation, a coupling encircling said pipeand connected to said casting, a flange carried by said pipe, a springarranged between sad iange and said coupling, a piston slidably mountedWithin said recess, an auxiliary pipe establishing a communicationbetween said pipe and said recess, a ring seated Within said piston, asleeve movably mounted Within said ring, a valve sealedv Within saidpiston, a valve stem carried by said valve and extending through saidring hand.

JOHN B. GENIN.

